Aventon Level 4 ADV Review | Is This the Perfect Commuter?

As a well-designed and robustly-equipped commuter, the Level 4 ADV’s ride quality is great. In comparison to many simpler e-bikes, the topic is more complex in this case; we’ll examine all aspects of the Level’s ride quality below.

Beginning with sizing and fit, Aventon offers the Level 4 ADV in a total of five sizes, divided between the HS and ST versions of the bike. The high-step model, which has three sizes, is designed for riders between 5’4” and over 6’3” (we typically estimate about 6” in height per frame size). The step-thru frame fits those between 5’3” and 6’1”.

At 5’11”, I was well within the recommended height range for the Large size frame we tested. I found the bike’s somewhat stretched out and forward-leaning riding position comfortable yet appropriately sporty-feeling. I enjoyed efficient, ergonomically-correct leg extension and a comfortable handlebar position, thanks to the bike’s 400mm seatpost and adjustable stem.

Comfort is created by a combination of a supportive (but not too hard) sport-style saddle, relatively slim ergonomic rubber grips, a suspension fork with 100mm of travel, and a suspension seatpost with 50mm of travel. Overall, the bike felt great to ride, blending a cool, somewhat aggressive riding position with a high degree of softness.

The bike’s riding position and feel worked well in combination with its handling. The ADV felt agile and quick, and its suspension effectively softened the ride without giving the bike a loose or divey feeling in corners. Having recently tested the Level 4 REC, I can say that the ADV felt noticeably more nimble due to its lower weight, despite its sister model handling well, too.

As mentioned in the Speed Test section earlier, Aventon’s custom mid-drive motor felt natural and responsive but also smooth. It produced some noticeable noise—a gentle whirring sound—while riding, but I did not find it to be obtrusive.

Considering the bike’s powerful mid-drive and suspension, the ADV has significant potential as an SUV-style e-bike. I wouldn’t mind seeing Aventon add knobbier hybrid tires to increase the bike’s off-road capability, though, of course, consumers can make changes after purchase.

In my experience, the ADV’s electronic shifting system is somewhat of a mixed bag. Shifting via button presses feels cool and high-tech, but it felt a bit less responsive than the REC model’s trigger-style shifter. As a result, I found myself needing to plan ahead when approaching hills to account for the extra time required to reach the right gear.

The automatic shifting generally functioned well despite its inherent limitations. As a reactive system, it switches gears in response to changes in cadence, speed, terrain, etc. I found that it worked best with its sensitivity set to its maximum, though it was not as proficient at downshifting as when upshifting.

Combined with the Level 4 ADV’s Auto assist mode, however, the auto shifting feature makes the overall experience of riding a “fully automatic” e-bike remarkably low-effort and enjoyable. This feature is likely to broaden the bike’s appeal to consumers who are newer to cycling, which may not otherwise be the case with a mid-drive-equipped e-bike that does not ship with a throttle.

Like many of Aventon’s other models, the Level 4 REC brings a truckload of cool tech to the table. Its color display features a sharp new user interface, including a clean, easy to read layout and a rubberized button pad on the left handlebar.

Some of the ADV’s security features, including its battery and wheel locks, can be accessed via the bike’s settings menu. Many of the bike’s deeper features, however, require the Aventon app to be paired with the display. Once a user connects to the app, they can track ride data, interact with other Aventon e-bike owners, employ additional security features, track the bike’s location, and adjust the motor and electronic shifting system.

Among the extra security measures are a motion detection and alarm system, a geofencing feature, an auto-lock function, and the ability to set a passcode requirement upon startup. When enabled, unusual impacts or motion can trigger the alarm and send notifications to the owner’s phone. In the unfortunate and unlikely event of theft, the app can also be used to remotely disable the bike, preventing its use until it is recovered.

The geofencing feature is an intriguing option that has a few potential uses. By setting boundaries that create prohibited or allowed areas on a GPS map, users might ensure their bike does not leave a specific location when parked, prevent older children from entering unwanted areas, or control how large a zone of travel their bike has for other purposes.

As we’ve come to expect from Aventon, the Level 4 ADV offers an impressive array of features, a comfortable ride, and plenty of capability for daily use. It has a couple of potential areas for improvement, but its overall ride quality is excellent.